Sint-Petrus en Pauluskerk

Sint-Petrus en Pauluskerk is the parish church of Vroenhoven, a village within the municipality of Riemst in the Belgian province of Limburg. The building stands on Pastoor Counestraat, on a plot of roughly 2,342 square metres, and serves as the parish church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul under the Diocese of Hasselt.

When was the church built?

The current church was constructed between 1936 and 1937 to a design by architect Joseph Deré. Its early history was far from peaceful: in 1940 the building suffered serious wartime damage, which was repaired through a restoration carried out the following year, in 1941, allowing the church to resume its liturgical function relatively quickly.

What architectural style does it follow?

The church is built in the Neo-Romanesque style, typical of Belgian sacred architecture from the interbellum period. It takes the form of a three-aisled cross basilica, made up of a four-bay nave, a three-bay transept, and a single-bay choir closed by a semicircular apse flanked by smaller side apses (absidioles). To the west rises a tower with a round staircase turret on its southern side.

What materials were used?

The building was constructed in brick, set on a tall plinth of rubble stone. The roofs are gabled and lean-to in form. The base of the tower is built from rough-hewn stone and houses a Romanesque portal with a profiled surround, together with decorative brick window openings. Throughout the facades, profiled brick windows appear, most commonly grouped in sets of three lights.

What does the interior look like?

Inside, plastered surfaces combine with exposed brick structural elements. Barrel-vaulted arcades resting on columns separate the central nave from the side aisles, while ribbed vaults are carried on brick colonnettes. Among the church's furnishings is a polychrome wooden statue of Saint Francis Xavier, dated to around 1800.

Is the church a protected monument?

Yes — since 1 February 2018, Sint-Petrus en Pauluskerk has been listed as protected architectural heritage in Flanders. The protection covers both the structure of the building and elements of its historic furnishings, including the aforementioned statue of Saint Francis Xavier.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In Vroenhoven, a village in the municipality of Riemst, in the Belgian province of Limburg, on Pastoor Counestraat.

Who designed the church? Architect Joseph Deré, who drew up the design built in 1936–1937.

Was the church damaged during the war? Yes, it suffered serious damage in 1940, with restoration carried out in 1941.

What architectural style does the building represent? Neo-Romanesque, characteristic of Belgian interbellum church architecture.

Are there any historic furnishings preserved inside? Yes, including a polychrome statue of Saint Francis Xavier from around 1800.